NYC single mommy; Three time Columbia University Alumna (BA in Psychology; MA and EdM in Psychological Counseling); Educator and Adjunct Professor by day, Freelance Writer/Lifestyle Blogger by night; Stylista at heart; Kids fashion is my thing. My life is filled with all things pink (and purple), except for the one bit of blue -- my rambunctious 7-year-old son; Perfect combo of sweet, chic, edgy, and badass. Small gal with big dreams and determined to #walkbyfaith

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Jodi the Yogi: Yoga for Kids!

What might the world look like if an entire generation of young people grow up learning that their true power is found in being good to themselves and others?

That's the question the lovely ladies over at Jodi the Yogi are asking folks. That and other questions such as, "What have you learned from yoga that you wish you could share with a younger version of yourself?"

Jodi the Yogi
is an "interactive health and wellness series that uses the practice of
yoga to support the positive development of young children. The series
will make the benefits of yoga accessible to kids all over the world," which is beyond cool.

I remember the first time I took a yoga class. I was a junior in high school and working as an assistant ballet and jazz teacher at a ballet school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The ballet school offered unlimited classes to anyone who worked there and I would take advantage of that perk by signing up for different classes a few times a week. One day, I signed up for a beginning yoga class. I figured if I could become fairly good at the art of ballet and jazz, I could also take on yoga.

Boy, was that first class an experience for me.

For someone who had been dancing all those years, I realized that I had no idea how to control my breathing while attempting to hold new poises for an extended period of time. "Breathe into the poise," the instructor said to me. But I was hot and sweaty and trying desperately not to look like a fool. Breathing, unfortunately, was not at the top of my list. Throughout the remainder of the class, I kept saying that I was done with yoga, that I'd just stick to ballet and jazz.

But after the class, I decided that I needed to give myself time to learn the ins and outs of yoga. So I gave it another go. And while, I am not an avid yoga practice-r, I am happy that I stuck with it.

Not only did that little stint teach me another lesson in perseverance and resilience (y'all know I'm good for that!), but yoga has given me a better awareness of my body in ways that I never thought possible. Centering myself, focusing on my breathing, and meditating has helped me hone in on certain stress points, figure out their source, and not only figure out how to alleviate the stress, but also ways in which to deal with the stress source itself.

Yoga's pretty amazing in that way.

And I'm happy to share it with Aiden whenever we have the chance.

Now it's your turn. What have you learned from yoga that you wish you could share with a younger version of yourself? Or your child? Or anyone else willing to listen? Visit the Jodi the Yogi website in order to learn all about the campaign and ways in which Jodi the Yogi wants to give kids everywhere free access to yoga. They are currently seeking any kind of donation in order to get this amazing project up and running.